Method of making wood heels for shoes



April 30, 1929- L.. D. DozlER ET AL 1,710,923y

METHOD "oF MAKINGVwooD HEELS FOR SHOES Filed Febfl'? 1927 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES LEWIS D. DOZIER, OF ST.' LOUIS COUNTY," JOHN W. GREEN, OF ST.LOUIS, ANDIRANCIS J. GRINDLER, OF PINE LAWN, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO PAWNEE WOOD HEELy CO., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

METHOD OF MAKING WOOD HEELS FOR SHOES.

Application led February 17, 1927. Serial No. 168,905.

This invention relates to a method of making Wooden heels for shoes of the type having concave upper ends andtapering bodies.

`An object of the invention is to provide a formed in the upper ends of theheels after the bodies of the heels have been shaped, so

that the strains and stresses caused by cutting the coneavities are exerted upon the slender heel bodies resulting in considerable numbers of heels being broken or damaged.

Our improved method for obtaining these advantageousresults may be clearly understood from the following description, taken in connection with` the accompanying draw# ing, wherein Y Fig. l is a side elevation of a wooden block from which a Wooden shoe heel is made by our improved method.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same block after being marked to indicate the approximate dimensions and position of the concavity to be formed in the upper end of the shoe heel.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the wooden block after the concavity has been formed in its upper end.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the Wooden block after it has been doWeled and the concavity formed in its upper end pre paratory for lthe final operations.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the block after the breast Wall of the heel has been formed and before the remaining portion of the heel body has been turned to finished shape.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the heel clamped in the machine by which the filial operations are performed.

lP ig. 7 is a perspective view of the completed heel.

Tn the manufacture of Wooden heels according to this invention, Wooden blocks are formed with an inclined rear Wall 1 and an approximately straight front `wall Q, both of of the block.

grain. The top Walll and bottomwvall` 4 are usually fiat and approximately parallel ,v

with each other. p A

The block is cut to form'the concavity t5 in the upper end` 3 of the block beforey the y block is out or shaped to form they slender lower heel portion. A border defining the.` area of the concavity `to be formed may lhe marked on the Wall 3,4 as indicated at Gbe forebeginning cutting the block to form the concavit-y. Y We prefer alson to insert a dowel pm fin an inclined holepformed in the block and extending upwardl from the bottomen'd 4. This hole may be formed and the dovve'l pin 7 inserted therein either beforcor after the concavity G is formed in the'upper` end This dovvel pin extends in an inclined direction so'4 that, when theheel is finished, the dowel pin throughout its length will be imbedded in the heel approximately axially.

of the Wood grain to preventsplittiiig. It

The dowel pin extends transversely very tight in tliehole and may be additionallyi secured to the walls of fthe hole by glue.

After formation of theconcavity 6 and insertion of the duivel 7 inthe block, the vertical Wall 2 which isaeross the grain of the block is cut away to form the upwardly and rearwardly inclined breast Wall 8 of the heel and to provide a forward extension 9, due to the upward and forward curvature of the Wall 8. By reference to Fig. 5, from which the final shape `of `the finished heel body, as

shovvn in Figs. 6 and 7 may be fairly visual-j.` ized, it Will tbe seen that thedowel 7 extends obliquely upvvardl, and rearvvardl and approximately aXjial y in theheel ody` and transversely of the Wood grain and, therefore, affords and ished Without likelihoo After the breast Wall 8 has been formed, the heel is clamped rigidly between an upper clamping element 9 anda lower clamping element-10 and is cut and trimmed to shape p the necessary reinforcing stren th to permit the heel body to be turned of breaking. n'

by cutters 11. The lowerclamping element Y ics and which substantiallyfillsfthe concavity, ,s p

a very small percentage of these heels are broken by operation of the cutters 11. By experience, we havet'ound that a niuch smaller percentage of heels are broken by this operation than were broken by usent the old method and practice. Then, the machine holding the heel block in this novel manner, after formation of the coneavity G, is open ated to turn and shape the heel to iinished form, the outer Wall of which appears slightly concave When viewed 'from any lateral direction.

This provides a heel having a concave upper end and a relatively small lower body portion oit appropriate configuration made Without danger ot breaking and ready for the application ot the heel cover.

In practice, We have found that this method of finishing heel bodies largely reduces the number and proportion ot heels that are broken during the course of niainitacture. By the existing methorh We estimate that there is a loss due to breakage oit ap} roximately live per cent oli the total number ol heels finished; whereby by this method. this loss is practically eliminated.

What We claim and ldesire to secure by Letters Patent is l. Theniethod of making a Wooden shoe heel Which consists in forming a concavity in the sidero'f a Wooden block that is to be at the upper end of the heel, then cutting` the block to form the breast Wall ot the heel, then clamping the heel between tivo'clan'iping elements, one of which engages in saidconcavity and the other of which clamps against the opposite end o'l' the heel, and then turning and cutting the heel to provide a tapered heel body.

2. The method of forming a Wooden heel which consists in forming a concavity in the side or'f a Wooden block that is to be the upper end et the heel7 imbedding a dowel pin in the heel body trom the opposite side o the block that is to i'orin the lower end of the heel, then cuttin the block to forni the breast Wall ot the heel, and then turning and cut ting the heel to form outer Walls inclining downwardly and inwardly from the upper end of the heel.

3. The method of making a Wooden heel which consists in forming a concavity in the upper end ot the heel, foriningthe breast Wall olf the heel, clamping the heel between two clamping elements, one of which is engaged in said concavity and the other of which clamps against the opposite end of the heel,

and then turning and cutting the heel to torni a tapered heel portion.

a. The method ot making a Wooden heel which consists in forniinga concavity in the upper end ot the heel, forming the breast wall olf the heel, in'ibedding a dowel pin in the heel below said concavity, clamping the ally imbedded.

LEWIS D. DOZIER. JHN XV. GREEN. F. J. GRINDLER. 

